Blood Coltan (2007)
Blood Coltan is a documentary that exposes the dark realities surrounding the mineral known as coltan (also called columbite-tantalite). Let’s dive into the details:
- Coltan and Its Significance:
- Coltan is a dull black metallic mineral containing the elements niobium and tantalum.
- Tantalum is a heat-resistant material used in electronic circuits, making it crucial for devices like mobile phones and computers.
- The Conflict in the Congo:
- The documentary reveals that coltan is mined in the eastern Congo.
- However, there’s a grim reality: the demand for coltan in the West is funding the ongoing conflict in the region.
- Rebel militias closely oversee the mines, where even children as young as ten work, risking their lives to extract this valuable resource.
- Powerful Interests and Blood Trade:
- Blood Coltan uncovers a web of powerful interests that protect this blood trade.
- It introduces us to warlords who exploit the local population and European businessmen who continue importing coltan, defying international efforts to address the issue.
This documentary serves as a reminder that our modern devices often come at a high cost, with the blood of those caught in conflict zones.
